R.I. officials gather at Bristol’s Town Beach to mark completion of climate-change report

BRISTOL — Governor Chafee visited Town Beach in Bristol — with its recently completed green stormwater project — to promote the completion of a draft report he commissioned on how Rhode Island should respond...

BRISTOL — Governor Chafee visited Town Beach in Bristol — with its recently completed green stormwater project — to promote the completion of a draft report he commissioned on how Rhode Island should respond to climate change.

“There’s no doubt climate change and extreme weather are happening,” Chafee told the 50 state and local officials gathered for the report’s public release.

The report, “A Resilient Rhode Island: Being Practical About Climate Change,” was released on the heels of other major national and international reports sounding alarms about climate, as several speakers noted. The White House released its own National Climate Assessment earlier this week.

“Let’s prepare,” said Chafee. “It’s coming.”

The report emphasizes the importance of government “leading by example” — a goal Chafee described as his “favorite.”

It recommends establishing climate change as a “decision-making principle” for all state agencies, setting energy-use reductions for all state facilities and developing a strategic plan for the state for the next five years.

Other recommendations include identifying vulnerable areas of the state, mitigating climate change through energy efficiency and renewable power, and preparing for such climate-related effects as rising seas, flooding and severe weather. Among the priorities are protecting power supplies, water utilities and transportation assets.

“This isn’t just about the environment,” said Janet Coit, director of the state Department of Environmental Management, who led the gathering.

“We need to be practical and smart,” she said, emphasizing a major theme of the report, “and take on these challenges.”

Coit introduced the various state officials who served on the Rhode Island Executive Climate Change Council, which produced the report. The governor created the council in February.

Chafee said that the work required by a changing climate could be a boon to Rhode Island industries if the state can become a leader on the issue.

“There’s an economic opportunity,” he said. “Let’s take advantage.”

The report is available online by going to www.planning.ri.gov and clicking on “Climate Change Council” and then “Resources.” Public comment may be submitted up until 5 p.m. May 20. It should be sent by email to former DEM director Jan Reitsma (jan.reitsma@governor.ri.gov).

“We want the public to take a look at this draft and see what we are doing,” Chafee said.